Corporate flight crew reported ATC stated a pilot deviation occurred as the aircraft descended the charted altitude on the localizer approach before being cleared for the visual approach. The flight crew denied a pilot deviation occurred; as the aircraft was established on the localizer course outside the waypoint with the altitude selector above the floor.
Synopsis
Corporate flight crew reported ATC stated a pilot deviation occurred as the aircraft descended the charted altitude on the localizer approach before being cleared for the visual approach. The flight crew denied a pilot deviation occurred; as the aircraft was established on the localizer course outside the waypoint with the altitude selector above the floor.
Narrative
Aircraft being vectored from the east; north of Red Table (DBL). 270 heading cleared to 14;000 ft. then a turn southwest down to 13;000 ft. Cleared for LOC DME approach; maintain 13;000 ft. until established. With alt selector set to 13;000 ft. and descending to that altitude; Approach Control was told we had the airport in sight. As instructed by Approach; pilot monitoring called the Tower and reported airport in sight and we were cleared for the visual approach Runway 15. At that time we were joining the localizer course with green needle set to heading 151.The FMS was set with our course extended out from KICER; as that was the fix we were being vectored just outside of. NAV mode armed and 13;000 ft. set as the altitude with autopilot on. We proceeded to fly a smooth; stable visual approach to landing with a turn off of the runway at A4. Taxiing in; we were asked to contact Aspen Tower for a possible pilot deviation. I called the Tower and controller said that he needed to get some information. I asked what it was in reference to and he said that the Approach Controller felt that we may have descended below charted altitude on the localizer approach before being cleared for the visual approach. I do not believe that to be the case. We were established on the localizer course outside KICER with altitude selector set to 13;000 ft. As soon as the Tower was contacted; we were cleared for the visual approach. There was no delay from Approach Control to Tower Controller and the visual clearance was received right away.I do not believe that an altitude deviation actually occurred. Altitude selector was set to 13;000 ft. and the fix we were just outside of allowed for a descent to 12;900 ft. Perhaps the Approach Controller did not realize that the visual approach clearance was obtained so soon after the handoff was issued. Suggestion: Perhaps try to get clearance for the visual approach from the Approach Controller before being switched to Tower.
Second reporter narrative
We were maintaining 13;000 ft. and told to maintain until KICER until Tower clears us for the visual approach. We advised Approach that we were visual and got switched to the Tower and cleared for the visual approach for Runway 15. My belief [is] that a deviation from altitude didn't occur [as] the selector [was] set at 13;000; just outside the fix which has a floor of 12;900 ft. Maybe the Approach Controller didn't realize that we had been given the visual approach clearance as soon as we were handed over. Maybe if Approach can issue the visual clearance before the Tower Controller might mitigate some of this communication lag.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.